Abstract: A housing retains a lancet body which encloses a needle whose tip is covered by a cap. The cap has a head provided with flanges. These flanges locate within notches at the end of the housing on only two sides of the housing. The location of the flanges within the notches holds the lancet within the body, before use, so as to compress a spring positioned between a head and a slotted portion of the housing. When the device is to be used, the head of the cap is rotated through 90° so as to detach the cap from the rest of the lancet body and release the flanges from the notches. This allows the lancet body to be actuated by a sprung-loaded trigger-release mechanism, when required, so that the tip of the needle projects momentarily through the opening at the end of the housing and then bounces back.

Abstract: The invention is designed to virtually contain smoke, vapor, and odor throughout the entire smoking process. The device is designed with a detachable and contained combustion chamber using a positive air pressure, a filter or scrubber, an air propulsion system, or a one-way valve, to contain residual smoke, vapor, and odor from entering the environmental surrounding. The combustion chamber comprises a bowl resembling a cylinder, cone, or dome with, or without, a screen which is encased by a shield made of glass, metal, plastic, or other material that is impermeable to smoke, vapor, or odor, to contain the bowl. The combustion chamber is designed to contain any kind of heat that is applied to combust or volatilize a material creating smoke, vapor, or odor. The combustion chamber is combined with, or without, a respirator mask to contain smoke, vapor, and odor from entering the environmental surrounding using a pollutant scrubber.

Abstract: A syringe holder has a barrel (1) with a needle shroud (4) telescopic into its leading end and urged forwardly by a spring (5). The shroud is rotatable into several set positions, being located by snap action of a nib (18) into longitudinal grooves within a forward extension (3) of the barrel (1). An abutment (21,20) on the shroud is thereby aligned with a selected one of several abutments (12,9,14) within the barrel, these all being at different axial positions. One setting prevents needle exposure; the others permit different amounts of needle exposure as the barrel (1) is urged forwardly during an injection.

Abstract: A skin pricker has a housing (1) for a lancet (5) which, when released from a rearward cocked position, is propelled forwards by a spring momentarily to project its tip (3). During the forward motion a peg (12) within the housing (1) passes along a slot (10) in the lancet and, just before the tip (3) projects, snaps through a neck (11) at the rear end of the slot. If the lancet (5) is then pushed back, the peg (12) cannot re-enter the slot (10): instead it wedges the lancet sideways and, before it can be re-cocked, traps the lancet behind an abutment (13) ensuring that the tip (3) cannot be re-exposed.

Abstract: Plastics material injected through an entry point of a mould at the location (8) is caused to deflect around a pin which creates the hole (9) in a guard (5), so as to increase the balance of flow of material to either side of the pin (9). In order to minimise the tendency for the plastics material to bend out of shape the tip of the needle embedded within an enlarged portion (13) the mould is formed such that the mould material is initially encouraged to divide and flow through outer thickened regions (10) surrounding a thinner portion. At point (12) the plastics material is therefore caused to slow down resulting in greater equalisation of the flow speed of the plastics material to either side of the needle tip.

Abstract: A skin pricker has an elongate housing containing a spring-loaded lancet which, when released from a rearward, cocked position by a trigger, shoots forward momentarily to project the tip of its needle through one end of the housing. The lancet is then prevented by a spring ratchet from being returned again to the cocked position. The cocking can be done through a twist-and-pull cap initially covering the needle tip and extending through that one end of the housing, the user pushing the cap to retract the lancet from its initial position. To guard against the lancet being prematurely pulled forwards by the cap and being trapped against cocking by the ratchet, the lancet has a formation that will engage a part of the trigger.

Abstract: A firing device has a housing (10, 20) for an injector (1) with a trigger (4) whose action to eject a dose from its needle (2) is forwards against a resistance. The housing contains a spring (24) which acts on an axially movable locator (23) for the injector (1) that co-operates with its trigger (4). The device is primed by compressing the spring (24), the injector then being latched in a rearward position. Release of the catch (28) causes the spring (24) first to propel the injector (1) forwards, acting through the locator (23) and trigger (4), until the needle (2) is projected, and then to overcome the resistance to the trigger (4) to actuate that and cause a dose to be ejected.

Abstract: When a trigger of an injection device is released, a main spring (4) expands, driving a member (7) forwards. This compresses a weak spring (11), but a spring (5) is stiff enough to remain expanded. A syringe (2) is thus thrust forwards via a collar (9), so that a needle (3) projects from a barrel (1). The spring (4) continues to expand after the syringe has reached its forward position, with the spring (11) fully compressed, so that the stem (8) of the member (7) acts on a piston (14) within the syringe (2), to expel the dose while the spring (5) is caused to be compressed. The spring (5) ensures that the syringe is retained in its forward position during this phase.

Abstract: A lancet has a generally tubular body (1). A hollow insert (4) with a closed end plugs one end of the body (1), and it has a co-axial projection (5) forming a sharp tip proud of that end of the body. The body (1) and insert (4) are simultaneously formed by twin shot moulding, the body being of polyethylene and the insert being of a liquid crystal polymer which will create a sharp tip of adequate strength.

Abstract: In use a knob (5) is rotated from its zero position to set a dose. This rotates an indexer (16), which through its peg (20) turns a ring (7) by pushing on one of the teeth (8). A position is reached wherein the free end portion of the peg (20) meets a cam surface (13). On continued rotation of the knob (5), the peg (20) is forced radially inwards to clear the tooth (8) that it has just been pushing against. The ring (7), having been shifted through one-seventh of a complete revolution is then left stationary while the knob (5) is turned further to whatever dose is required. When a syringe actuation trigger (4) is pressed, the knob (5) winds back again to its zero position, taking with it the indexer (16). The peg (20) is still held clear of the ring (7) until it hits the sloping side of the tooth following the one which it had previously pushed. As the knob finally reverts to zero, the peg (20) slides along that slope and then snaps outwardly after passing the tip.

Abstract: A skin pricker for blood sampling has a barrel housing a lancet which can be pushed back against a spring to a primed condition, by an elongate cap over its needle tip there to be held by a trigger. The cap (4) is removed by twist and pull action. The lancet body has integrally formed spring arms extending rearwardly and alongside, and when the lancet is fired these are momentarily flexed inwardly as their tips snap past abutments within the barrel. These act as ratchets, providing a first defence against re-priming of the pricker. If that first defence is overcome by a substantial rearward force on the lancet, the spring arms rearward pointing V's which wedge between the abutments and the lancet body. The cap may have a weakness leaving it rigid enough for the initial priming but which causes it to buckle if used to try to overcome the ratchet.

Abstract: When the injection device is applied to a patient's skin and a plunger is pressed, the entire syringe and a carrier move forwards in relation to a barrel such that ribs on the carrier snap past a rib on a shroud. The syringe is arrested by flanges coming up against the rib, and a spring is compressed and a needle is fully projected. Further pressing on the plunger ejects the dose. The needle shroud is kept at the rearward position by its firm engagement around the injection area. On withdrawal of the device, the shroud is pushed forwards by the spring to protect the needle. This draws fingers through gaps in the ribs, the fingers being forced to bend towards the fingers as the divergence takes effect.

Abstract: An injection device for a syringe incorporates a housing (1) for a syringe (29). A needle shroud (15) is captive to the leading end of the housing and is movable before use between extended and retracted positions. A drive member (17) is releasable from a rearward position within the housing to urge the syringe forwards to project its needle (30) beyond the retracted needle shroud (15) and then to express a dose through the needle. Locating members (12) on the housing capture the drive member (17) at its forward position (attained after expressing the dose). The captured drive member (17) is also arranged to block retraction of the needle shroud (15) from its extended position.

Abstract: A syringe holder is designed to be thrown away after a single use with the syringe safely captive within. The holder has a barrel (5) into whose rear end a syringe (1) is entered until the rear flange (2) of the syringe seats in a socket (15). Then a gate (16) is hinged in a radial plane through a slot (14) in a thick flange (12) surrounding the socket (15) and snap fastens in a position obstructing rearward movement of the syringe (1). The syringe needle (3) projects forwardly of the barrel (5) and is shrouded by a sleeve (7) captive to the barrel and urged forwards by a spring (6). The sleeve (7) retracts to expose the needle during injection but afterwards, having moved forwards again, it can be rotated to snap fasten to the barrel (5) and be locked in its needle shrouding position. The sleeve (7) can also be adapted to remove a cap or sheath from the needle (3) when, before injection, it is moved backwards and then forwards.

Abstract: A skin pricker has a housing (1) for a lancet (5) which, when released from a rearward cocked position, is propelled forwards by a spring momentarily to project its tip (3). During the forward motion a peg (12) within the housing (1) passes along a slot (10) in the lancet and, just before the tip (3) projects, snaps through a neck (11) at the rear end of the slot. If the lancet (5) is then pushed back, the peg (12) cannot re-enter the slot (10): instead it wedges the lancet sideways and, before it can be re-cocked, traps the lancet behind an abutment (13) ensuring that the tip (3) cannot be re-exposed. There can also be an arrangement (18, 21) whereby the lancet (5) cannot be prematurely pulled forwards by its cap (4) for the tip (3) and thus allow the peg (12) to escape the slot (10) before the pricker has been cocked and fired.

Abstract: A syringe holder has a barrel (1) with a needle shroud (4) telescopic into its leading end and urged forwardly by a spring (5). The shroud is rotatable into several set positions, being located by snap action of a nib (18) into longitudinal grooves within a forward extension (3) of the barrel (1). An abutment (21,20) on the shroud is thereby aligned with a selected one of several abutments (12,9,14) within the barrel, these all being at different axial positions. One setting prevents needle exposure; the others permit different amounts of needle exposure as the barrel (1) is urged forwardly during an injection.

Abstract: A self-use medical injector has a knob at the rear end of a barrel which is rotated from a zeroed position to set the dose and which rotates back again, to the zeroed position, when the injector is fired. A scale is provided on the knob (2) or barrel (1) and a datum mark or indicator on the barrel or knob co-operates with the scale. There is a raised stud (3, 11, 12, 16) providing the indicator or the zero mark of the scale. An annular member (4, 10, 14, 17) fitted over the knob if the stud is on the barrel or over the barrel if the stud is on the knob, has a projection (9, 12, 15, 18) which is registered with a mark on the scale corresponding to the required dose. This projection abuts the stud when the knob is rotated and thus sets the knob for the correct does.

Abstract: An injection device is disposable, and is designed to have a reusable firing mechanism fitted to its rear end. A syringe carrier within the barrel of the device is initially locked in a position with the needle of the syringe retracted by a locking element inserted laterally through the barrel. This element also holds an axially movable connector to which the firing mechanism connects. The device is made operable by removal of the locking element, and after use a return spring ensures that neither the syringe carrier nor the connector assume positions where the locking element can be reinserted. An adaptor may be provided to facilitate preparing a syringe with a two-component dose, and for disposal after use the adaptor with an empty vial still attached can be fitted to the rear end of the injection device in place of the firing mechanism.

Abstract: A skin pricker has an elongate housing containing a spring-loaded lancet which, when released from a rearward, cocked position by a trigger, shoots forward momentarily to project the tip of its needle through one end of the housing. The lancet is then prevented by a spring ratchet from being returned again to the cocked position. The cocking can be done through a twist-and-pull cap initially covering the needle tip and extending through that one end of the housing, the user pushing the cap to retract the lancet from its initial position. To guard against the lancet being prematurely pulled forwards by the cap and being trapped against cocking by the ratchet, the lancet has a formation that will engage a part of the trigger.

Abstract: A skin pricker for blood sampling has a barrel (1) housing a lancet (2) which can be pushed back against a spring to a primed condition, by an elongate cap (4) over its needle lip there to be held by a trigger. The cap (4) is removed by twist and pull action. The lancet body (5, 6) has integrally formed spring arms (8, 18) extending rearwardly and alongside, and when the lancet (2) is fired these are momentarily flexed inwardly as their tips (9, 19) snap past abutments (11) within the barrel (1). These act as ratchets, providing a first defence against re-priming of the pricker. If that first defence is overcome by a substantial rearward force on the lancet, the spring arms rearward pointing V's which wedge between the abutments (11) and the lancet body (6). The cap (4) may have a weakness (20, 21) leaving it rigid enough for the initial priming but which causes it to buckle if used to try to overcome the ratchet.